Division of Research & Innovation

Research Awards

This page highlights recent research awards received by faculty and staff across the University of Memphis, showcasing the scope, scale, and impact of their work. These awards support innovative research, creative activity, and community-engaged projects spanning transportation, public safety, health, education, the arts, and workforce development.

Collectively, they reflect strong partnerships with federal, state, industry, and nonprofit funders and underscore the University’s commitment to advancing knowledge, addressing real-world challenges, and creating lasting impact locally and beyond.

Dr. Sabya Mishra, Professor of Civil Engineering, was awarded $2,000,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DoT) for his project “Proactive Enforcement and Technology-enabled Compliance for Commercial Motor Vehicles Safety in Work Zones (PROTECT-CMV).”

 

Dr. Richard Bloomer, Professor and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, was awarded $90,350 by PharmaLinea Ltd. for his project “Comparison of the Beverage Hydration Index of Different Solutions.”

 

Dr. Satish Kedia, Associate Dean of Administration and Faculty Affairs in the School of Public Health and Professor in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, received $84,612 by the State of Tennessee for his project “Evaluating and Advancing Evidence-based Strategies to Combat Tennessee’s Opioid Crisis from the Stakeholders’ Perspective.”

 

Dr. Shawn Brown, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, was awarded $56,610 by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for his project “Early Detection of Pathogens in Tree Fruit Orchards in West Tennessee.”

Dr. Susan Elswick, Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work, was awarded $56,043 by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for her project “MSCS Project AWARE.”

 

Dr. Richard Bloomer, Professor and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, was awarded $37,586 by Microbe Formulas for his project “The Effects of Fulvic/humic on Mitochondrial Function and Oxidative Stress in Cells.”

 

Dr. Mary Randolph-Frye, Research Associate II in the Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP), was awarded $37,000 by the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis for her project “WFGM Vision 2025.”

 

Dr. Amy de Jongh Curry, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, was awarded $30,000 by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance for her project, “State A/E Board Grant 2026.”

Dr. Adrienne Cooper, Director of the Capacity Research Equity Opportunity Program in the Division of Research and Innovation was awarded $20,000 by the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation for her project, “Capacity Support for Local Infrastructure and Compliance Assistance for DRIVE Communities Across Arkansas.”

 

Mary Tucker, Chief Policy & Compliance Officer for University Schools, was awarded $19,591 by the Tennessee Department of Education for her project, “Public School Security Grant,” and $10,000 by the U.S. Department of Education (US DoEd) for her project, “FY26 Title IV Part A.”

 

Dr. Max Paquette, Professor in the College of Health Sciences, was awarded $9,962 by DECATHLON SE for his project, “Influence of Advanced Footwear Technology on Walking Economy and Joint Kinetics in Older Adults.”